Can and bottle opener



Feb. 16, 1960 J. 1.. FOX

CAN AND BOTTLE OPENER Filed Feb. 18, 1958 I N VEN TOR.

John L. Fox

ATTD RN EYE U t s tfis Pat fi r CAN AND BOTTLE OPENER John L. Fox, Paramount, Calif.

Application February 18, 1958, Serial No. 715,941

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-293) This invention relates to a can and bottle opener, and more particularly to a can and bottle opener which can be moved to an out-of-the-way position when'it is not being used.

An object of the invention is to provide a can and bottle opener which includes a novel mounting means so that for example with the opener mounted beneath a kitchen cabinet or shelf, the device can be kept in an outof-the-way position until it is being used, and wherein when the device is being used it can be readily moved to an operative position, and wherein the opener of the present invention is provided with a magnetic means 2,925,237 Patented Feb. 16, 1960 lCC be made of any suitable material, and the body member for engagement with the lid or top of a can which is 7 cut oil whereby the can lid will be prevented from falling into the can of foodstuff or other material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can and bottle opener which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the can and bottle opener of the present invention, showing the opener in raised position, as for example when it is not being used.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the opener in lowered position ready to be used.

, Figure 3 is a view showing the parts in the position of Figure 2, but taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken through a portion of the locking mechanism and showing the base in locked position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the locking mechanism unlocked.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the can and bottle opener of the present invention which includes a support member that is indicated generally by the numeral 11. The support member 11 includes a flange 12 that is adapted to be secured to the undersurface of a suitable supporting structure 13 which may be a shelf, or a lower portion of a kitchen cabinet or the like. The flange 12 is adapted to be secured to the supporting structure 13 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of securing elements such as the screws 14. The support member 11 includes a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed plates 15.

There is further provided a movable base 16 which is pivotally supported between the pair of plates 15, and the base 16 includes a rounded end portion 17. The pair of plates 15 are provided with registering apertures 18 which are adapted to register with an aperture 19 in the base 16, Figures 5 and 6.

The numeral 20 indicates a body member which may 20 includes a first portion 21 which extends through the registering apertures 18 and 19, and a lip or flange 22 is provided on an end of the portion 21, Figures 5 and 6. The body member 20 further includes a second portion 23 which is of greater diameter than the portion 21, and a cap 24 is mounted on an end of the portion 23, there being a recess 25 in the cap 24.

The present invention further includes a locking pin which is indicated generally by the numeral 26, and the locking pin 26 includes a first section 27 which projects through the body member 20 and engages the recess 25 in the cap 24. The first section 27 has a collar thereon adjacent the free end thereof just inwardly of the cap 24. The pin 26 further includes a right angularly arranged second section 28 which terminates in a right angularly arranged third section 29. The third section 29 of the pin 26 is mounted for movement through oposed registering openings 30 in the plates 15, and there is further provided in the base 16, spaced. apart openings 31 and 32 which are adapted to have the portion 29 selectively extend therethrough. A coil spring 33 is positioned in the portion 23 of the body member 20, and the coil spring 33 engaging the collar on the first section 27 serves to normally urge the pin .26 into locked position as shown in Figure 5.

The numeral 36 indicates a manually operable lever which includes a straight portion 37 that is provided with eyelets'34 and 35, and pins 4 and 5 extend from bosses 6 and 7 on the base 16, the pins 4 and 5 extending through the eyelets 34 and 35. A finger engaging portion 38 is arranged on oneend of tion 39 is on the other end of the lever .36, the portion 39 having a finger or trunnion 2 which engages an opening 3 in the pin 26. Thus, by pressing on the portion 38 with a persons finger, the finger or trunnion 2 will move the pin 26 from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6 whereby the pin portion 29 will clear the base 16 whereby the base 16 can be moved up or down as desired. Thus, the base 16 can be moved to the position shown in Figure 1 when it is not being used. Furthermore, when the can opener is to be used, the base 16 can be swung down from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure As shown in the drawings, the can opener structure includes a cutter 40 and a feed wheel 41 which is connected to a cam or eccentric 42, and the eccentric 42 is adapted to be moved by meansof a handle 43. The numeral 44 indicates a handle piece for turning the feed Wheel 41. Secured to the base 16 is a guide piece 45 which has a spring member 46 arranged in engagement therewith, and an arm 47 extends from the guide piece,

. the top of thecan after it has been cut whereby the top' of the can will be prevented from falling into the material in the can. The numeral 49 indicates a member for supporting the cutter 40. An end of the base 16 is provided with a bottle opener as indicated by the numeral From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an opener for use in kitchens or the like, wherein the opener can be moved to an out-of-the-way position when it is not being used, and wherein the opener can be moved to a diiferent position when it is to be used for opening a can for example, so that the can opening portion of the device is convenient to the housewife or other user. Thus, when the device is not being used, it is in an out-of-the-way position so that it will not interfere with.

the lever 36, and 3 P 3 the 'deviceis shown in raised position, as for example when it is not being used, while in Figures 2 and 3 the device is shown in lowered position so that it can be convenientlyused for opening a can When the device is intl'ie position s'hown'in Figure l, the locking mechanism which is indicatedgenerally'by the numeral 51, serves to maintain the base 16 and 'itsassociated 'parts in up position. Thus, when the parts are in thepositiof nof Figure 1, the portion 29 of the pin 26 projects through "the openings 30 in the plates 15, and throughthe'openirig 32 in the base 16 and the pin portion 29 of the pin 26fis held in this locked 'position by means of the spring 33. Thus, the can opener will not accidentally 'r'nove d'own- Wardly. When the housewife desires to use the can opener or bottle opener, it is only necessary to press on the portion 38 of the lever 36, andsince the straight portion 37 of the lever 36 is supported movably by the pins 4 a'nd 5 andeyelets 34 and 35, it will be seen that this pressure on the portion 38 will result in outward movement of the portion 39, and as the portion 39 moves outwardly as for example from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6, the pin 26 is'rnoved outwardly so as to compress the coil spring 33 and at 'the' same time Withdraw the portion 29 of the pin '26 from the registering openings in the plates and base. This permits the base 16 to swing downwardly from the position shown in Figure lto the position'shownin Figures 2 and 3, and Whenthe base 16 reaches its proper downward position, "the spring 33 will move the portion 29, into engagement with the registering openings '3Q .,a i 1d 3 1 so that whenp'ressure is released on the portion 38, the base 16 will be locked in itsdown-position. Then, t heeancan be positioned in its proper position in the can openerand by actuating the hnadle, the top of the can will be cut off or fsevered. The arm 47 extends outwardly as previously described, and the arm 47 carries the magnet 48 which is arranged in sucha manner that as the top of the can is cut ofi, the magnet 48 will attract the top of the can and hold it and prevent it from droppinginto the material in the can so that the can opener functions in a rnore advantageous manner. After the can opener is no longer.

needed, the reverse procedure is followed, that is the locking mechanism51 can be actuated by means of the finger portion38 whereby the base 16 can be returned from .the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the positionshown in Figure l, and when pressure on the portion 38 'is released, the locking mechanism will retain the base 16 in raised position. The opener 50 can be used for removing tops from bottles or the like. I a

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in diflere'ntshapes or sizes. 1

The opener of the present invention can be attached at any convenient location, as for example it can be coninto the can after the lid has been cut free and this eliminates the necessity of picking the lid up out'o'f the can. In certain instances, the device may be mounted in a completely out-of-the-way fashion so that it will not interfere with existing structures in the kitchen.' With the mounting of the present invention, it is not necessary to fasten the can opener on drain boards in a kitchen or the like. The can opener can be operated in a perpendicular manner as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The spring member 46 serves to place the proper amount of pressure on the can guide 45. The handle 44 serves to actuate the feed Wheel 41. 7

As previously stated, the lever 36 is mounted on bosses which may be formed integral with the base 16, and rivets or securing elements 4 and 5 connect the eyelets 34 and 35 to the bosses on the base. The bosses in the base 16 maybe made by making indentations on the opposite side of the base with a punch press or the like. This construction insures that the device will be inexpensive to make and assemble, as well as eflicient to operate.

Minor changes, in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimedlinay be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

In amounting bracket for a can opener, a support" member including a flange adapted to be secured 'tola supporting structure, a pair of spaced parallel plates 'depending from said flange, a base pivotally mounted "be tween "said pair of plates, there being registering apex:

tures in said base and plates, a body member including a first portion of reduced size extending through said, registering apertures, a lip on 'one end of said. body member, said first portion terminating in a second portion of increased size, a cap mounted on the outer ef saids'eco'nd'portion, a pin including a first section extending into said body 'me'mbe'r, a collar on the first section of said pin adjacent the free end thereof, the first section of said pin having an opening adjacent the oppositeei'id extending therethrough transversely thereof, a coil "spring c'ircum'posed on "the first section of said pin in engagement.

with the collar thereon and positioned within the enlarged second portion of said body member, said pin including a second section arranged at right angles with respect to said first section, a third section arranged at right angles to said second section, there beingfregister ing openings in said plates and base for receiving therein the third section of'said pin, bosses extending from said base; a leverhaving a straightportion pivotally connected to said bosses, a finger engaging portion on oneerid 6f said lever, a trunnion on the other end of said straight portion, and 'said trunnion engaging the opening in said" Goodenough Jan. 22, 1957' 

